Schools are named for teachers
Streets are named for trees
Girls are named for songs
But boys sing on their knees
I named you for some letters
Scratched in trees
I named you for a song
That begs
For tender mercies

I named you for the water
On my kissing little tongue
I named you for the wind
In my crying little lungs
I named you for the life's work
Of honeybees
I named you for a song
That begs
For tender mercies

I named you for the numbers
On a little piece of paper
I named you for a wish
I named you for the words
I would whisper
Half weeping when I could not sleep
Help me keep her (2x)

Schools are named for teachers
Streets are named for trees
Girls are named for songs
And a cry ‘Baby, please’
I named you for a whole wash of memories
I named you for a song
That begs
For tender mercies